Many Jewish communities around the world have a special day to commemorate a great leader of the past. Chabad celebrates the 19th of Kislev as the day that Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi was freed from imprisonment in Czarist Russia. Satmar chasidim celebrate the 21st of Kislev as the day that the Satmar Rebbe, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum, escaped the Holocaust. Both were great Torah scholars and leaders who influenced multiple generations and will continue to do so for generations to come despite no longer being with us.
The 24th of Teves is turning into such a date for the community in West Hempstead, New York. That is the date of the yahrzeit of Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer, who was the Rav of the Young Israel of West Hempstead for 38 years until his passing in 2021. The Young Israel celebrated the life of their beloved rabbi over this past weekend with a combination of his Torah shared by neighborhood rabbanim, stories shared by those who grew up in his community, and t’filah, led by world-renowned singer Mordechai Shapiro.
Throughout the Shabbos, one common theme emerged, and that was Rabbi Kelemer’s love for his fellow man. Jessica Koenigsberg pointed out Rabbi Kelemer’s ability to make you feel like nobody else in the world mattered to him in the moment he was speaking to you, while Michael Levine told the story of Rabbi Kelemer’s urging him to organize a Mishnah class instead of simply learning it on his own. Both of these long-time West Hempstead residents knew what everyone else who has ever had the privilege of speaking with Rabbi Kelemer knew – he was a man who knew how to lead, and how to get others to be the best version of themselves.
The turnout of the community was enormous over the weekend. As President Richard Feldman remarked, “I think the tremendous participation from our community says something about who Rabbi Kelemer was and what he meant to each and every one of us... As it says on the plaque dedicated to him in the lobby [of the shul], ‘He was the Eish Tamid that warmed our hearts and ignited our souls.’
After Shabbos, the community heard from Rabbi Hanoch Teller, who had just completed the biography on Rabbi Kelemer’s life. Rabbi Teller told many of the stories that appear in the book entitled If Not Higher. One that stuck out was the story of a former custodian of the Young Israel named Tom Laverty, a man affectionately known by the community as “Rabbeinu Tom.” At the end of Tom’s life, when it was time for his last rights, Tom shunned the idea that a priest would be visiting him. Instead, he asked for his rabbi. This request would be repeated by Tom’s daughter when she was hospitalized. She asked to be visited by Rabbi Kelemer, as well.
Rabbi Kelemer was somehow able to be a tremendous gadol b’Yisrael, an admired leader, a rabbi’s rabbi, and at the same time, being so humble that he would not make anyone feel inferior when talking to him or her. His presence was known certainly throughout the Modern Orthodox world, as the Five Towns held a similar day of remembrance for him on Monday night, featuring many local rabbinic leaders.
At his l’vayah, one of Rabbi Kelemer’s sons compared the greatness of Rabbi Kelemer to that of the Chofetz Chaim. He explained that before the Chofetz Chaim came to Radin, it was just a stop on the train. And while he may have been right that the two towns owe their growth to a great leader, the difference is what happened to the two towns after their leader was no longer there. Radin went back to anonymity. But West Hempstead is still thriving. It is still growing. It is taking the seeds that were planted by Rabbi Kelemer, and it is expanding and branching out, showing no signs of slowing.
Rabbi Yehuda Kelemer will always be linked to West Hempstead, and the community will never forget that. As high as Rabbi Kelemer was able to take the community, they will continue his legacy year after year, If Not Higher.
Izzo Zwiren works in healthcare administration, constantly concerning himself with the state of healthcare politics. The topic of healthcare has led Izzo to become passionate about a variety of political issues affecting our country today. Aside from politics, Izzo is a fan of trivia, stand-up comedy, and the New York Giants. Izzo lives on Long Island with his wife and two adorable, hilarious daughters.
